Niel-Asher - The concise book of trigger points: a professional and self-help manual

eBook ISBN: 978-1-58394-850-7
Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-58394-849-1

Copyright 2005, 2008, 2014 by Simeon Niel-Asher. All rights reserved. No portion of this book, except for brief review, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher. For information, contact Lotus Publishing or North Atlantic Books.

First published in 2005, and republished in 2008. This third edition published in 2014 by
Lotus Publishing
Apple Tree Cottage, Inlands Road, Nutbourne, PO18 8RJ and
North Atlantic Books
P O Box 12327
Berkeley, California 94712

Anatomical Drawings Amanda Williams
Line Drawings Sigal Vilenski
Cover Design Paula Morrison

DISCLAIMER
The techniques offered in this book are not a substitute for proper therapy from a registered practitioner; although aches and pains from trigger points are common, there can sometimes be an underlying pathology. It is advisable to always seek a proper diagnosis from a qualified medical practitioner. You follow the treatment techniques in this book at your own risk.

The Concise Book of Trigger Points is sponsored by the Society for the Study of Native Arts and Sciences, a nonprofit educational corporation whose goals are to develop an educational and crosscultural perspective linking various scientific, social, and artistic fields; to nurture a holistic view of arts, sciences, humanities, and healing; and to publish and distribute literature on the relationship of mind, body, and nature.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 1 905367 51 1 (Lotus Publishing)
ISBN 978 1 58394 849 1 (North Atlantic Books)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Niel-Asher, Simeon, author.
The concise book of trigger points : a professional and self-help manual / Simeon Niel-Asher. Third edition.
p. ; cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-58394-849-1 (trade pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN 978-1-905367-51-1 (Lotus Publishing) ISBN 978-1-58394-850-7 (e-book)
I. Title.
[DNLM: 1. Trigger Points. 2. Chronic Diseasetherapy. 3. Myofascial Pain
Syndromes--physiopathology. 4. Myofascial Pain Syndromestherapy. WE 510]
RC927.3
616.0472dc23

2014011599

v3.1

Dedication
To my wife, sons, mother, friends, family, and wonderful patients.

Welcome to the start of an exciting journey. I know there are many books on trigger points out there and I would like to thank you for reading this one. I was asked to write the first edition of the Concise Book of Trigger Points in 2003 and am delighted that, since its publication, the book has been translated into over 20 languages and become a best seller worldwide. Now, over 10 years later, I have completely updated and revamped the content. I am pleased to share current research, evidence, and advanced techniques for manual therapy practitioners, as well as simple self-help protocols that can do at home.

Many of you reading this book are suffering needlessly from pain and disability. So much of this can be relieved quickly and efficiently with simple trigger point therapy. My hope and prayer for you is that you will find relief in the pages of this book.

Simeon Niel-Asher 2014
www.nielasher.com

I learned about osteopathy from my great-uncle Sidney Roseneil when I was 14; he was an osteopath, acupuncturist, and naturopath in the 1960s, a time of great change in modern medicine. The notion of the body being encouraged to heal itself resonated within me even then. Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMT) emphasizes the innate ability of the body to heal itself and teaches techniques to bring out this semi-automatic response. The body has self-regulatory and self-healing mechanisms that still outmaneuver and outsmart modern medicine. Through my work as an osteopath I learned to feel and understand the powerful and pre-verbal language of touch. When I was introduced to trigger points (TPs) in my second year of college I just knew that I had found something special. I spent the next two and a half years, along with a couple of friends every weekend, visiting, learning, and watching David Warren, D.O., the master at work.